Harness-tug fastener.



J. R. CRAGROFT.

HARNESS TUG PASTENER.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 9, 1911.

1,038,091. Patented Sept. 10,1912.

WITNESSES: [NYE/W01? %4%M JR. cmc ft,

v BY

ATTORNEY COLUMBIA PLANOGEAPH (20., wASmNq'mN, B. c.

JAMES R. CRACROFT, 0F HARTFORD, KANSAS.

HARNESS-TUG FASTENER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 10, 1912.

Application filed December 9, 1911. Serial No. 664,883.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES R. CRAoRorT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Hartford, in the county of Lyon and State of Kansas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Harness-Tug Fasteners; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to harness tug fasteners, or devices for the attachment of traces to the swingletrees of vehicles.

As is well known, some harness traces are provided with eyes or slots punched in the leather, to receive a hook on the swingletree while other traces are provided with iron loops that are adapted for attachment to the same or similar parts.

My invention has for its object to provide tug fasteners for swingletrees, which fasteners shall be adapted for attachment with either the slotted or iron-looped style of tugs aforesaid; and to provide tug fasteners of a peculiar construction whereby the tugs cannot accidentally become disengaged therefrom. In accomplishing these objects, I have provided the improved details of structure hereinafter described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure I is a perspective of my improved tug fastener in position on a portion of a swingletree, showing in section a tug ring attached thereto. Fig. II is a horizontal section of the same, indicating the two styles of tug end, one in full and the other in dotted lines, in working position attached to the fastener. Fig. III is a top plan view of the device when turned to position for receiving or releasing a tug. Fig. IV is an end elevation of the device in the position shown in Fig. I.

Referring more in detail to the parts: 1 designates the end portion of a swingletree, and 2 the shank of the fastener, which is fitted upon the part 1, as shown in Fig. II, and may be pinned thereto if so desired. Said shank is integral with a bifurcated head 3, which is formed by cutting an open slot 41: therein. Transversely of said slot, a hole is drilled to receive a pivot-pin 5,

which before insertion has one head 0 thereon, the other head being formed after the final assemblage of parts.

The fastening member, 6, consists of three integral salient portions, namely, a hook 7 a headed stud 8, and a stop lug 9. Between the lug 9 and hook 7 is the body, 6, which is pierced by a hole to receive the pin 5. on which the member pivots. IVhen the hook 7 is in its operating position (Fig. II), the lug 9 will bear against the bottom of the slot 4, which bottom is inclined as shown.

Between the lug 9 and hook 7 is a curved or J-shaped aperture 10, which is wide enough to pass freely an iron trace-loop 12 (indicated). The dotted lines show the normal position of such loop when in use with the horses pulling forward. WVhen they back, the loop 12 will tend to rotate the member 6 toward the position shown in Fig. III, but this cannot result in the disengagement of the loop, because as soon as the pull is resumed the fastener will be returned to its normal position by the pull of said loop on the point of the hook. When the member is turned back as seen in Fig. III, the prong 15 strikes the shank forming a stop.

The stud 8 is projected at a point substantially in line with the shank 2, between the hook 7 and the lug 9. It is adapted for insertion in the slot 13 of an old style tug 14:, and is provided with a tie head 15-15, of

which one member 15 extends forwardlv and downwardly and is short, and the othei" member 15 extends upwardly and rearwardly and is comparatively long. Their function is to retain the tug on the stud while permitting its easy placement and re moval. The use of this style tug is illustrated in Fig. II.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new therein and desire to secure by Letters-Patent is 1. In a tug fastener, a shank having a slotted head, a fastening member pivoted in said head and having a stop lug and hook,

the said hook being at the front of the fastening member and forming a J-shaped opening between same and the stop lug, for

the reception of a tug ring or loop, when the said member is turned to its open position.

2. In a tug fastener, a shank having a slotted head, a fastening member pivoted partly in the slot in said head, said member having a curved stop lug and having a hook disposed forward of the pivoted portion of said member, and forming a J-shaped opening between same and the lug, the said opening being closed when the stop lug is in engagement with the head and open when said member is turned from its functional position.

3. In a tug fastener, a shank having a slotted head, a fastening member pivoted in the head slot and having an integral stop lug and hook, the said hook being disposed at the front of the fastening member and having a back-turned free end, whereby a J-shaped opening is formed between said lug and hook and adapted for the reception of a tug. ring or loop only when the said member is turned substantially ninety degrees from its normal tug holding position.

4. A tug fastener comprising a shank, a head having a ,slot, and a fastening member pivoted, in said slot, said fastening member'being provided with a headed stud and with a hook, said studbeing adapted to receive a tug slot and the hook being adapted to receive a tug ring or loop.

' Ex-A tug fastener comprising a shank, a

Qhead havinga slot, and a fastening member pivoted in said slot, said fastening member being provided with a headed stud and with a hook, said stud being adapted to receive a tug slot and the hook being adapted to receivea tug ring or loop, the head of said stud being arranged to stop the rotary motion of the member in one direction.

6. A tug fastener comprising a shank, a head having a slot, and a fastening member pivoted in said slot, said fastening member being provided with a headed stud and with a hook, said stud being adapted to receive a tug slot and the hook being adapted to receive a tug ring or loop, said hook being closed when in functional position but open when the member is rotated ninety degrees.

7 A tug fastener comprising a shank, a

I bifurcated body on the shank, a fastening member pivoted partly within said body, said fastening member comprising a hook, a T headed stud, and a stop lug, all integrally formed, said hook and stud being adapted to receive tug ends of different styles, and said hook being normally closed but open when the member is turnedfn inety degrees.

8. A tug fastener comprising a shank, a head having a slot, a fastening member pivoted partly in said slot,.sai'd member having a curved stop lug and a hook adjacent said lug, there being a "J-shaped aperture between said lug and hook for the reception of a tug ring or loop when said member is turned fro-1n its functional position.

9. A tug fastener comprising a shank having a slot, and a fastening member pivoted in said slot and having stop lug, hook and stud members, the said hook and stud members being adapted to receive tug ends of different styles, said stop lug for holding the fastening member against rotation in one direction when the stud and hook members are in functional position, the rotation in the opposite direction being limited by the engagement of the stud with the shank.

10. A tug fastener comprising a shank, a bifurcated body 011 the shank, a fastening member pivoted in said body, said fastening member comprising headed stud, hook and stop lug members, the said stud and hook members adapted for receiving tug ends, the head of sald stud being arranged to limit the rotary motion of the fastening member in one direction, and the stop lug for limiting the motion in the opposite direction, the said hook being closed when the stop lug is in engagement with the shank and open when the head of the stud engages the said shank.

11. A tug fastener comprising a shank having a slot and a fastening member pivoted in said slot and having stop lug, hook and stud members, said stud and hook members being adapted for connection with 'tug ends of different styles, and said stop lug for holding the stud and hook members in functional positions, by engagement with the shank at the base of the slot.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JAMES R. CRAGROFT.

Witnesses:

A. S. BERNHEISEL, R. O. MILNER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. G. 

